Coates Golf Championship Kicks Off The 2015 LPGA Season

By Les Bailey | Jan 29, 2015

The Ladies Professional Golf League(LPGA) got its 2015 season underway on a cool Wednesday morning at the Coates Golf Championship Presented By R+L Carriers Info, at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Northern Florida. Approximately 20 players were unable to finish on Wednesday because of darkness, and the organizers are expecting a frost delay on Thursday morning.

This is the inaugural playing of this event, and marks the first time in over a decade where the women have gotten their season started in the continental US before moving off-shore. The Coates Golf Championship is offering a $1.5 Million Dollar purse, and 500 Race To CME Globe points to the winner.

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American, Austin Ernst, and Monday Qualifier, Ha Na Jang had led for most of the day, but when the daylight was done, so was their lead.

Stacy Lewis, Jessica Korda, and Spaniard, Azahara Munoz were playing ready golf in attempt to get the first round in the books before darkness fell. Lewis and Munoz birdied 18 with Kordica making birdies at 16 and 17 to take a one-shot lead to the clubhouse.

The trio was playing ready golf because they didn’t want to meet the 7:30 start time to finish the first round early on Thursday morning.

They fired six under 66’s, and take a one-shot lead over the youngsters now tied for fourth place.

"“I just stayed patient out there. Finally on the back nine kind of got more comfortable just with back playing again and started hitting golf shots,” Lewis said. “Had a couple birdies that were just tap-ins, which helped, and rolled a few putts in so it was a good day. I almost wish we didn’t have darkness and could keep going, I finally got into a rhythm there.”"

One of the few players dressed in shorts during the cool Florida afternoon, Lewis went on a birdie run for five of the last six holes, including the last three. The veterans fed off each others fine play, with Jessica Korda birdied three of the last five holes, and Munoz the last two.

The youngsters at five under par are like deer in the headlights at five under par with the likes of Lydia Ko and South Korean, Na Yeon Choi one stroke back, and two off the lead in fourth place.

Big hitting, Lexi Thompson is one more shot back at three under in a tie with another South Korean, Mi Jung Hur.

Ha Na Jang is ranked 21st in the latest Rolex Rankings, but had to Monday Qualify due to her finish at the Q School. She shot 70 on Monday to make the field. She could become the first Monday Qualifier to win on the LPGA Tour since Laura Kern at the 2000 State Farm Classic.

"“I played in the qualifer and it was very hard and windy so it made today an easy round,” Jang said.Jang will be looking to become the first qualifer to win on the LPGA Tour since Laurel Kean at the 2000 State Farm Classic."

Next: Jing Yan And Ha Na Jang Monday Qualify For the Coates Championship

The Rolex Number One ranking is up for grabs this week at The Coates Championship. Stacy Lewis currently has that ranking, but depending on how they finish, Inbee Park or Lydia Ko could go to the Pure Silk Bahamas next week as El Numero Ono!

Here’s the scenario:

Lydia Ko will take No. 1 with a win regardless of what else happens. Lydia, with a win, would become the youngest No. 1 in men’s or women’s golf history. If Lydia finishes in solo 2nd, she will take No. 1 regardless of what Stacy Lewis does as long as Inbee Park finishes in a three-way tie for third or worse.

Stacy Lewis will take No. 1 ONLY if Inbee Park finishes 8th-or-worse AND Lydia finishes in a three-way tie for second or worse.

Inbee can lock up No. 1 with a solo third finish-or-better as long as Ko doesn’t win.

The frost in Northern Florida and length of daylight hours is presenting a problem with logistics at the Coates Championship. With a Wednesday start, it was originally expected to finish up on Saturday, it will be a struggle to get done on time.

This is a nice tournament with a strong field, and is already shaping up to be the type of shootout we have become accustomed to seeing on the LPGA Tour.

Source: LPGA.com